Black Bottom Banana Bars

A fantastic combination of banana bread and chocolate.  Who can beat that?  I have found that the easiest way to mash the bananas is with the beaters as I put them in.  I used to do it with a fork before hand, but I am a lazy cook!   Use the extremely ripe-black on the outside bananas as they give the best flavor.  Another trick is to put the bananas you don't want to throw out into the freezer and defrost them just before using.  Frozen bananas are a great treat anyway, we used them as popcicles growing up.  The easiest way I have found is to take a gallon size zip lock bag, peel the banana and put it in, you can keep adding to it as you have the stray banana that is overripe.  Then make banana bars to your heart's content!   Makes 12


Black Bottom Banana Bars

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 cups mashed bananas, about 3 medium
1-1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 c cocoa

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add egg and vanilla; beat until thoroughly combined.  Blend in the bananas.  Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Divide batter in half.  Add cocoa to one half and spread into a greased 9/13 pan.  Spoon remaining batter on top and swirl with a knife.  Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until the bars test done.